U.S. patent number 7,618,380 [Application Number 11/958,292] was granted by the patent office on 2009-11-17 for method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during surgery.
Invention is credited to Ray Linovitz, Joseph C. Mallinger, Arthur C. Perry.
United States Patent |
7,618,380 |
Mallinger , et al. |
November 17, 2009 |
Method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during
surgery
Abstract
A method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during
surgery includes providing a nerve damage positional injury
pressure monitoring system including a site sensor with a
transducer in the form of a transducer element and a ring extending
outward from the transducer element, and a monitor connected to the
site sensor; adhering the ring of the site sensor to the patient so
that the transducer element forms a protective barrier in front of
the area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury
during surgery; using the system to continuously monitor pressure
on the protective barrier formed by the transducer element in front
of the area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury
during surgery with the site sensor and monitor; and causing an
alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure
condition when monitored pressure is greater than a predetermined
threshold.
Inventors: |
Mallinger; Joseph C.
(Escondido, CA), Linovitz; Ray (Rancho Santa Fe, CA),
Perry; Arthur C. (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) |
Family
ID: |
37495063 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/958,292 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20080103416 A1 |
May 1, 2008 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
11146570 |
Jan 1, 2008 |
7314454 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/587; 128/898;
600/398; 600/553 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
90/14 (20160201); A61B 90/06 (20160201); A61B
2090/08021 (20160201); A61B 2090/065 (20160201) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
5/103 (20060101); A61B 19/00 (20060101); A61B
3/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;600/383,398,587,553
;128/897,898 ;338/47 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01212565 |
|
Aug 1989 |
|
JP |
|
WO2004078038 |
|
Sep 2004 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Hindenburg; Max
Assistant Examiner: Pani; John
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Beuerle; Stephen C. Procopio Cory
Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/146,570 filed Jun. 7, 2005, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.
7,314,454 on Jan. 1, 2008. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/146,570 is incorporated by reference herein as though set forth
in full.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during
surgery, comprising: putting a surgery patient under general
anesthesia; providing at least one site sensor to detect pressure
on at least one area of the patient prone to nerve damage
positional injury during surgery, the at least one site sensor
including a transducer in the form of a substantially circular
cupped, convex transducer element and a substantially annular ring
extending circumferentially outward from the transducer element;
adhering the ring of the at least one site sensor to the patient
circumferentially around the at least one area of the patient prone
to nerve damage positional injury during surgery so that the
substantially circular cupped, convex transducer element forms a
protective convex baffler in front of, and does not contact, the at
least one area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional
injury during surgery, the at least one area of the patient prone
to nerve damage positional injury during surgery disposed
underneath the transducer without contacting the transducer, the
ring is adhered without contacting the at least one area of the
patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery;
connecting the at least one site sensor to a monitor to monitor
pressure on the at least one area of the patient prone to nerve
damage positional injury during surgery with the at least one site
sensor; continuously monitoring pressure on the protective convex
barrier formed by the substantially circular cupped, convex
transducer element in front of the at least one area of the patient
prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery with the at
least one site sensor and monitor; alerting medical personnel of
the pressure condition on the protective convex barrier formed by
the substantially circular cupped, convex transducer element in
front of the at least one area of the patient prone to nerve damage
positional injury during surgery if the monitor and site sensor
determine a pressure condition exists on the protective convex
barrier formed by the substantially circular cupped, convex
transducer element in front of the at least one area of the patient
prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery; readjusting
the patient's position to alleviate the pressure condition,
preventing nerve damage positional injury positional injury during
surgery.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one site sensor
includes multiple site sensors, one for each of multiple areas of
the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery,
and the method further includes adhering the multiple site sensors
to the patient circumferentially around the at least one area of
the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery.
3. The method of claim 1, further including the transducer causing
a change in signal to the monitor upon the pressure condition, and
the monitor detecting the change in signal and causing an alarm to
be actuated to alert medical personnel of the pressure
condition.
4. The method of claim 1, further including the monitor causing an
alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of the pressure
condition when detected pressure is greater than a predetermined
threshold.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one site sensor
includes one or more wires to connect the at least one site sensor
to the monitor, and connecting includes connecting the at least one
site sensor to the monitor with the one or more wires.
6. A method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during
surgery, comprising: attaching at least one sensor to a surgery
patient circumferentially around at least one area of the patient
prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery, the at
least one site sensor including a transducer in the form of a
substantially circular cupped, convex transducer element and a
substantially annular ring extending circumferentially outward from
the transducer element, the substantially annular ring adhered to
the patient so that the substantially circular cupped, convex
transducer element forms a protective convex barrier in front of,
and does not contact, the at least one area of the patient prone to
nerve damage positional injury during surgery, the at least one
area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery disposed underneath the transducer without contacting the
transducer, the ring is adhered without contacting the at least one
area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery; connecting the at least one site sensor to a monitor;
continuously monitoring pressure on the protective barrier formed
by the substantially circular cupped, convex transducer element in
front of the at least one area of the patient prone to nerve damage
positional injury during surgery with the at least one site sensor
and monitor; alerting medical personnel of a pressure condition on
the protective convex barrier formed by the substantially circular
cupped, convex transducer element in front of the at least one area
of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery if the monitor and site sensor determine the pressure
condition exists on the protective convex barrier formed by the
substantially circular cupped, convex transducer element in front
of the at least one area of the patient prone to nerve damage
positional injury during surgery; readjusting the patient's
position to alleviate the pressure condition, preventing nerve
damage positional injury.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one site sensor
includes multiple site sensors, one for each of multiple areas of
the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery,
and the method further includes adhering the multiple site sensors
to the patient circumferentially around the at least one area of
the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery.
8. The method of claim 6, further including the transducer causing
a change in signal to the monitor upon the pressure condition, and
the monitor detecting the change in signal and causing an alarm to
be actuated to alert medical personnel of the pressure
condition.
9. The method of claim 6, further including the monitor causing an
alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of the pressure
condition when detected pressure is greater than a predetermined
threshold.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one site sensor
includes one or more wires to connect the at least one site sensor
to the monitor, and connecting includes connecting the at least one
site sensor to the monitor with the one or more wires.
11. A method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during
surgery, comprising: providing a nerve damage positional injury
pressure monitoring system including at least one site sensor with
a transducer in the form of a substantially circular cupped, convex
transducer element and a substantially annular ring extending
circumferentially outward from the transducer element, and a
monitor connected to the at least one site sensor; adhering the
ring of the at least one site sensor to the patient
circumferentially around the at least one area of the patient prone
to nerve damage positional injury during surgery so that the
substantially circular cupped, convex transducer element forms a
protective convex baffler in front of, without contacting, the at
least one area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional
injury during surgery, the at least one area of the patient prone
to nerve damage positional injury during surgery disposed
underneath the transducer without contacting the transducer, the
ring is adhered without contacting the at least one area of the
patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery;
using the nerve damage positional injury pressure monitoring system
to continuously monitor pressure on the protective convex barrier
formed by the substantially circular cupped, convex transducer
element in front of the at least one area of the patient prone to
nerve damage positional injury during surgery with the at least one
site sensor and monitor; and causing an alarm to be actuated to
alert medical personnel of a pressure condition when monitored
pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one site sensor
includes multiple site sensors, one for each of multiple areas of
the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery,
and the method further includes adhering the multiple site sensors
to the patient circumferentially around the at least one area of
the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery.
13. The method of claim 11, further including the transducer
causing a change in signal to the monitor upon the pressure
condition, and the monitor detecting the change in signal and
causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of the
pressure condition.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one site sensor
includes one or more wires to connect the at least one site sensor
to the monitor, and further including connecting the at least one
site sensor to the monitor with the one or more wires.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to systems and methods for preventing
nerve damage positional injuries during surgery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During spinal surgery, a patient lays asleep on an operating table
in a prone position so that the patient's back is easily accessed.
The patient's face is directed downward, towards the floor, and is
supported by a sponge-like support. The sponge-like support has a
cut-out for the patient's eyes, nose, and mouth. If the patient's
head moves or rolls relative to the sponge-like support during the
procedure, this can cause external pressure on the orbital area
(i.e. the eye, the orbital socket, and the area around the eye).
Direct or indirect pressure may be put on the eyeball or on the
nerves in the orbital area, especially in the super orbital region.
The patient is unaware of this because the patient is asleep during
the lengthy procedure (e.g., eight hours, ten hours, twelve hours).
The direct pressure can cause blood flow to stop in the orbital
area. The direct pressure on the orbital area and/or the diminished
blood flow to the eye caused by this external pressure is believed
by the present inventors to be a possible cause of intraocular,
periorbital, or periocular injuries to the eye(s) of the patient
during spinal surgery. These injuries can result in blindness or
other injuries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves a method of using a pair of adhesive
transducer patches over the orbital areas of a patient during
spinal surgery to detect and prevent pressure on or around the eyes
during such a procedure. The patches are placed over the orbital
areas prior to the spinal surgery and are worn by the patient
during surgery. Each patch includes a transducer that detects
pressure. A monitor is coupled to the patches, and actuates an
alarm in the event of an "eye pressure condition".
Another aspect of the invention involves a method of preventing
eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery. The method
includes putting a spinal surgery patient under general anesthesia;
adding an ointment to an eye of the patient; maintaining the
patient's eye in a closed condition during the spinal surgery;
providing a site sensor to detect pressure on an orbital areas of
the patient, the site sensor including a transducer; adhering the
site sensor to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient;
providing a facial support to support the patient's face during the
spinal surgery, the facial support including an opening to
accommodate the site sensor on the orbital areas of the patient;
providing the patient in a prone position with the patient's face
supported by the facial support with the site sensor accommodated
by the opening; connecting the site sensor to a monitor to monitor
pressure on the orbital areas of the patient with the site sensor;
continuously monitoring pressure on the orbital areas of the
patient with the site sensor and monitor; alerting medical
personnel of a pressure condition on the orbital areas if the
monitor and site sensor determines a pressure condition exists on
the orbital areas; and readjusting the patient's head to alleviate
the pressure condition, preventing eye-related positional
injuries.
A further aspect of the invention involves a method of preventing
eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery. The method
includes attaching a sensor to a spinal surgery patient over an
orbital area of the patient, the site sensor including a
transducer; connecting the site sensor to a monitor; continuously
monitoring pressure on the orbital areas of the patient with the
site sensor and monitor; alerting medical personnel of a pressure
condition on the orbital areas if the monitor and site sensor
determine a pressure condition exists on the orbital areas; and
readjusting the patient's head to alleviate the pressure condition,
preventing eye-related positional injuries.
A still further aspect of the invention involves a method of
preventing eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery.
The method includes providing an orbital area pressure monitoring
system including a site sensor with transducer, and a monitor
connected to the site sensor; using the orbital area pressure
monitoring system to continuously monitor pressure on an orbital
area of the patient with the site sensor and monitor; and causing
an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure
condition when monitored pressure is greater than a predetermined
threshold.
Another aspect of the invention involves a method of preventing
nerve damage positional injury during surgery. The method includes
putting a surgery patient under general anesthesia; providing a
site sensor to detect pressure on an area of the patient prone to
nerve damage positional injury during surgery, the site sensor
including a transducer in the form of a transducer element and a
ring extending outward from the transducer element; adhering the
ring of the site sensor to the patient over the area of the patient
prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery so that the
transducer element forms a protective barrier in front of the area
of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery; connecting the site sensor to a monitor to monitor
pressure on the area of the patient prone to nerve damage
positional injury during surgery with the site sensor; continuously
monitoring pressure on the protective barrier formed by the
transducer element in front of the area of the patient prone to
nerve damage positional injury during surgery with the site sensor
and monitor; alerting medical personnel of a pressure condition on
the protective barrier formed by the transducer element in front of
the area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury
during surgery if the monitor and site sensor determine a pressure
condition exists on the protective barrier formed by the transducer
element in front of the area of the patient prone to nerve damage
positional injury during surgery; readjusting the patient's
position to alleviate the pressure condition, preventing nerve
damage positional injury positional injury during surgery.
A further aspect of the invention involves a method of preventing
nerve damage positional injury during surgery. The method includes
attaching a sensor to a surgery patient over area of the patient
prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery, the site
sensor including a transducer in the form of a substantially
circular transducer element and a substantially annular ring
extending circumferentially outward from the transducer element,
the substantially annular ring adhered to the patient so that the
substantially circular transducer element forms a protective
barrier in front of the area of the patient prone to nerve damage
positional injury during surgery; connecting the site sensor to a
monitor; continuously monitoring pressure on the protective barrier
formed by the substantially circular transducer element in front of
the area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury
during surgery with the site sensor and monitor; alerting medical
personnel of a pressure condition on the protective barrier formed
by the substantially circular transducer element in front of the
area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery if the monitor and site sensor determine a pressure
condition exists on the protective barrier formed by the
substantially circular transducer element in front of the area of
the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during surgery;
readjusting the patient's position to alleviate the pressure
condition, preventing nerve damage positional injury.
A still further aspect of the invention involves a method of
preventing nerve damage positional injury during surgery. The
method includes providing a nerve damage positional injury pressure
monitoring system including a site sensor with a transducer in the
form of a transducer element and a ring extending outward from the
transducer element, and a monitor connected to the site sensor;
adhering the ring of the site sensor to the patient so that the
transducer element forms a protective barrier in front of the area
of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery; using the nerve damage positional injury pressure
monitoring system to continuously monitor pressure on the
protective barrier formed by the transducer element in front of the
area of the patient prone to nerve damage positional injury during
surgery with the site sensor and monitor; and causing an alarm to
be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition when
monitored pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold.
Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in
the art after a review of the drawings and the detailed description
of the preferred embodiments set forth below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of the patient's head during spinal surgery,
and shows an embodiment of a pair of site sensors shown applied
over the orbital areas of the patient.
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of one of the site sensors shown
in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is rear perspective view of the site sensor shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of a patient lying prone on an
operating table during a spinal procedure, and shows an embodiment
of a monitor that may be coupled to the site sensors of the present
invention through one or more wires.
FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of another embodiment of a site
sensor.
FIG. 6 is rear perspective view of the site sensor shown in FIG.
5.
FIG. 7 shows the site sensor of FIGS. 5 and 6 applied to a
patient's body in a location other than the orbital areas to show
that the site sensor may be used to monitor excessive external
pressure incurred by a patient placed in any position during any
surgical procedure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of a system 100 and
method for monitoring external pressure on the orbital areas 110 of
a patient 120 during prone position spinal surgery to prevent
eye-related positional injuries such as, but not by way of
limitation, posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION), anterior
ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), cornea injuries, eyelid injuries,
supraorbital nerve injuries, angle closure glaucoma, retina
detachment, intraocular lens dislocation, infraorbital nerve
injury, glaucome bleb closure, iris ischemia, ciliary body
ischemia, and other periorbital injuries, will be described.
Although the system 100 and method will be discussed in conjunction
with monitoring external pressure on the orbital areas 110 of a
patient 120 during a spinal surgical procedure, the system 100 and
method may be used in conjunction with monitoring external pressure
on the orbital areas 110 of a patient 120 during other types of
surgery, other than spinal surgery, where the patient is placed
prone during the surgery. Further, the system 100 and method may be
used for monitoring excessive external pressure or other conditions
to prevent all positional injuries during a surgical procedure
involving an anesthetized patient whether in the prone, supine,
side-lying, jack-knifed, or other position. Some of these other
positional injuries include, but not by way of limitation, cubital
tunnel, carpal tunnel, peroneal palsy, and compartment
syndromes.
The monitoring system 100 includes site sensors 200 connected to a
monitor 210 (FIG. 4) via one or more wires 220. In the embodiment
shown, each site sensor 200 is a substantially circular transducer
patch and is made up of one or more appropriate medical-grade,
biocompatible materials. The site sensor 200 includes a cupped
transducer element 230 and a substantially annular ring 240
extending circumferentially outward from the periphery of the
transducer element 230. An underside 250 of the ring 240 may be
completely or partially coated or circumscribed with a coating of
medical-grade, biocompatible adhesive, which is covered by a
removable backing, to allow for the attachment of the site sensor
200 to the orbital area 110 on the patient 120. One or more lead
wires 220 extending from the transducer element 230 may be
connected to the monitor 210 for monitoring the condition of the
site sensor 200. The one or more wires 220 may be disposed within a
sheath or other covering.
A method of monitoring external pressure on the orbital areas 110
of a patient 120 during prone position spinal surgery to prevent
eye-related positional injuries will be described. During a spinal
procedure on the patient 120, the patient 120 is put asleep lying
on his or her back using general anesthesia. In order to provide
ventilation to the anesthetized patient's lungs, a tube (not shown)
is placed into the patient's windpipe through the patient's mouth
or nose, and then secured with tape. An ointment is added to the
surface of the globe (eyeball) and the eyelids are taped closed so
that the eyes do not open during the procedure to prevent corneal
drying. The backing is removed from the adhesive underside 250 of
the site sensors 200, and the site sensors 200 are affixed to the
patient's skin, over the orbital areas 110. A facial cushion
support 300 is put on the patient's face so that the orbital areas
110, site sensors 200, nose, and mouth are located within a cut-out
of the facial cushion support 300. Then, the patient 102 is put
over in a prone position, face-down on an operating table, similar
to that shown in FIG. 4. The patient 100 is rolled over with pads
on his or her chest, the patient's neck position is adjusted, and
the anesthesiologist looks under the table and makes sure nothing
has moved. The perimeter of the patient's face 110, especially the
forehead and jaw, rests on the facial cushion support 300. The one
or more wires 220 are connected to the monitor 210, and the monitor
is activated. A visual check is made to ensure there is no pressure
on the site sensors 200. At this point the pressure on the site
sensors 200 should be zero. Pressure on the site sensors 200 is
continuously monitored during the surgery. Additional parameters,
conditions, or variables may be monitored during the surgical
procedure.
During the spinal surgery, if the patient's head moves or rolls
relative to the facial cushion support 300 and any pressure is
applied to the orbital area 110, the barrier formed by the
transducer element 230 is breached or deformed from its original
shape. A electrical signal is sent from the monitor 210 to the site
sensor 200, where the signal passes through the transducer element
230, and back out to the monitor 210. The monitor 210 monitors the
return signal. The breach or deformation of the barrier of the
transducer element 230 causes the returned signal to the monitor
210 to be outside of a designated range or above/below a
predetermined threshold. An alarm output is produced and the
monitor 250 actuates an alarm. The alarm audibly and/or visually
alerts the medical personnel to the abnormal pressure condition on
the patient's orbital area 110, and the patient's head is
readjusted to correct this condition.
Some pressure on the site sensor 200 may be tolerable. Accordingly,
in another embodiment of the monitor system 100 and method, the
monitor 250 may actuate an alarm when the detected pressure is
greater than a predetermined threshold or baseline, which is
greater than zero pressure.
Pressure data from multiple patients at multiple sites is collected
for a database as a research tool to determine normal pressure
ranges for any eye (or other positional injury).
In the immediate following paragraphs, features that may be part of
one or more implementations of the monitoring system 100 and/or the
site sensors 200 described herein are indicated.
For example, in one or more implementations of the system 100, the
system 100 may include one or more of the following. The entire
system 100 is contained in a single unit. The site sensor 200 and
the monitor 210 are integrated with each other. The site sensor 200
and the monitor 210 are connected to each other with any mechanical
connection device. The site sensor 200 and the monitor 210 are
connected to each other with any electrical connection device. The
site sensor 200 and the monitor 210 are wirelessly connected to
each other with any wireless equipment. The site sensor 200 and the
monitor 210 are connected to each other with any hollow fiber or
solid fiber device. The site sensor 200 and the monitor 210 are
connected via any telemetering type equipment. The site sensor 200
and the monitor 210 are connected via any optical/photonic type
equipment. The site sensor 200 and the monitor 210 are connected
via any combination of equipment type. The site sensor 200 and the
monitor 210 are connected with a conductive wire, set of wires,
coiled wire set or any other form of conductive wiring or cable as
know to those skilled in the art.
In one or more implementations of the site sensor 200, the site
sensors 200 may include one or more of the following. The facial
cushion support 300 is or includes the site sensor(s) 200. The pair
of site sensors 200 may be a single site sensor or the pair of
sites sensors 200 may be integrated into a single sensor device.
The site sensor 200 may include a test section to allow for
functional verification of the site sensor 200. The site sensor 200
senses external touch, pressure, and/or motion. The site sensor 200
is one or more of an electrochemical transducer, an
electromechanical transducer, an electroacoustic transducer, a
photoelectric transducer, an electromagnetic transducer, a magnetic
transducer, an electrostatic transducer, a thermoelectric
transducer, an electronic transducer, an electrical transducer, and
a mechanical transducer. The site sensor 200 is disposable. The
site sensor 200 is reusable. The site sensor 200 has a limited life
cycle or number of uses. The site sensor 200 is active. The site
sensor 200 is reactive to one or more of contact, stress, movement,
acceleration, temperature, light, mechanical, chemical, electrical
or electronic property, and any other measurable physical property.
The site sensor 200 reacts in the absence of any one of contact,
stress, temperature, movement, acceleration, light, electrical or
electronic property, mechanical, chemical, optical or any other
physical property of the site sensor 200 being monitored. The
active sensing area of the site sensor 200 is made of wire, traces,
various conductive material, metals, painted traces, liquid
conductive applications, sputtered deposition, vapor deposition
build up, MEMs production, photolithography, or other electrical
connection production method. The site sensor 200 is in any shape,
configuration, construction, thickness, or curvature as may be
desirable for application to orbital area or differing areas of the
body. The site sensor 200 is two-dimensional, three-dimensional,
polygonal, rectilinear, and/or curvilinear. The site sensor 200
contents and construction may be monolithic or of discrete
components. One or more members of the site sensor 200 are sewn,
bonded, connected, sealed, fused, adhesively attached, glued,
melted together or connected by any other method known to those
skilled in the art. The site sensor 200 monitors any physical
property that can be measured or gauged.
In one or more implementations of the site sensor 200, the input to
the site sensor 200 may include one or more of the following. The
input to the site sensor 200 is a direct current (DC) voltage
potential. The input to the site sensor 200 is an alternating
current (AC) voltage potential. The input to the site sensor 200 is
an amplitude modulated (AM) signal. The input to the site sensor
200 is a frequency modulated (FM) signal. The input to the site
sensor 200 is a pulse width modulated signal. The input to the site
sensor 200 is a light source (of any wavelength). The input to the
site sensor 200 is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The input
to the site sensor 200 is a thermal change. The input to the site
sensor 200 is a mechanical force. The input to the site sensor 200
is an electrochemical change. The input to the site sensor 200 is
any combination of inputs. The sensor input is sent to a computer
file. The sensor input is sent to an electronic storage or media
device. The sensor input is displayed on a computer monitor. The
sensor input is displayed on a medical device's user interface. The
input to the site sensor 200 is different from the output. The site
sensor 200 operates in multiple or singular modalities. The site
sensor 200 operation may change modalities.
In one or more implementations of the site sensor 200, the output
from the site sensor 200 may include one or more of the following.
The output from the site sensor 200 is electrical, mechanical,
chemical, thermal, optical, or any other type of output. The output
from the site sensor 200 is a direct current (VDC) voltage
potential. The output from the site sensor 200 is an alternating
current (VAC) voltage potential. The output from the site sensor
200 is an amplitude modulated (AM) signal. The output from the site
sensor 200 is a frequency modulated (FM) signal. The output from
the site sensor 200 is a pulse width modulated signal. The output
from the site sensor 200 is a light source (of any wavelength). The
output from the site sensor 200 is part of the electromagnetic
spectrum. The output from the site sensor 200 is a mechanical
force. The output from the site sensor 200 is an electrochemical
change. The output from the site sensor 200 is any combination of
outputs. The site sensor 200 output is different from the input.
The sensor input is different from the output. The sensor output is
sent to a computer file. The sensor output is sent to an electronic
data storage or media device. The sensor output is displayed on a
computer monitor. The sensor output is displayed on a medical
device's user interface. The sensor output is variable.
The system 100 and method monitor external pressure on the orbital
areas 110 of a patient 120 during prone position spinal surgery to
detect a pressure condition on the orbital areas 110. If a pressure
condition on the orbital areas 110 occurs, the monitor 210 detects
this condition, and indicates an alarm (audible and/or visual). The
patient's head is readjusted to correct this condition, and prevent
eye-related positional injuries.
With reference to FIGS. 5-7, an alternative embodiment of a site
sensor 400 will be described. The site sensor 400 may be used to
monitor excessive external pressure incurred by a patient in any
location on the patient's body (where the patient is placed in any
position during any surgical procedure). The site sensor 400 is a
substantially circular transducer patch and is made up of one or
more appropriate medical-grade, biocompatible materials. The site
sensor 400 includes a substantially flat transducer element 430 and
a substantially annular ring 440 extending circumferentially
outward from the periphery of the transducer element 430. An
underside 450 of the ring 440 may be completely or partially coated
or circumscribed with a coating of medical-grade, biocompatible
adhesive, which is covered by a removable backing, to allow for the
attachment of the site sensor 400 to the overlying dermis of a
suspected external positional induced pressure point. Similar to
the site sensor 200, one or more lead wires may extend from the
transducer element 430 and be connected to a monitor for monitoring
the condition of the site sensor 400. Use of the site sensor 400 is
similar to that described above with respect to site sensor(s) 200.
Thus, the site sensors and methods described herein may be used to
monitor all external pressure capable of producing nerve damage,
tissue damage, and/or any other physiological damage resulting from
a positional injury during any surgical procedure where the patient
is anesthetized, regardless of the patient's body position during
the surgical procedure.
It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that still
further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described
herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *